Welcome Show Team 2019!!! Horse show season has finally arrived! As we are hoping to have some new faces showing with us this year as well as some who haven’t shown in a while, I have come up with multiple options each month for shows to go to. If you’re new to this, I have an envelope with some helpful articles to get you started. There will be sign up sheets for the shows, so please sign up as they become available. Any questions about which to attend, please ask me and I will go over it with you.

First we will cover what it entails to horse show as well as what your responsibilities will be to get ready.

 ON THE DAY BEFORE THE HORSE SHOW- It is mandatory to come down to get your horse ready for the show. This entails bathing them (they should be sparkling clean), grazing them until they are dry and taking the final brush and polish over them, and wrapping them for the night (sheet or cooler if told so). You can always check in with me if you are showing a school horse to see when they are done for the day so you can come down to get them ready ALL TACK MUST BE CLEANED- And inspected prior to being loaded on the trailer. This means taking it apart and getting all of the grime that builds up in it off. Cleanliness is important when it comes to showing ALL PADS AND WRAPS MUST BE CLEAN- If you are showing a school horse, I will provide you with a bag of wraps for shipping and polos, and leather halter. THE TRAILER WILL NEED TO BE LOADED- With shavings and hay in the slots for the horses to ship. When we return home and you are done caring for your horses, all tack, supplies, and the back of the trailer must be cleaned out. This includes sifting out the back and clearing out the hay bags so the hay doesn’t mold. WHEN WE ARE AT THE HORSE SHOW- The horses stand on the trailer almost all day, or in a stall. You CAN NOT just ride and leave them.They work hard for us and we must care for them. This means grazing, grooming before and after your ride, and hand walking at the show (remember most of the school horses are older, it helps keep them less stiff!). Please make sure that you feed them hay and water throughout the day. Buckets will be in the trailer or stall. If you need help its okay to ask!! AFTER THE HORSE SHOW- You are expected to remain with your horse the duration of the day. This includes loading and unloading your horse from the trailer. When the show is over and we go home, you are to take care of your horse, put school horse wraps in the washer, help clean out the back of the trailer, and unload your stuff from the dressing room. Please put all school horse tack back where it belongs.

Next we will talk about what you guys will need to make sure you personally have when it comes to showing

 SHOW CLOTHES- I will give you guys a packet for what your child/you should have in order to show. It doesn’t need to be the top of the line stuff, especially if you decide that you only want to do it a handful of times. If you wear your clothes to the show make sure you wear clothing over them so you don’t get dirty (horse showing isn’t for everybody and thats okay!). WHITE SHOW PAD- Can be bought at your local tack store (make sure it fits the saddle you ride in they come in multiple sizes). ADDITIONAL PADDING- If your horse requires more than just a saddle pad please make sure to have that additional pad for your horse so it’s clean. GROOMING SUPPLIES- Brushes, curry, mane and tail brush, hoof pick, fly spray, shine spray, towels or rags. Best way to pack for the show is to buy a rubbermaid bin for all of your stuff to go in and label it. BATHING SUPPLIES- Shampoo (regular shampoo as well as a whitening shampoo to get those white spots on your horse shiny and bright), conditioner, sponges, sweat scraper, bucket, (towels for drying if needed). TACK CLEANING SUPPLIES- Sponges, neatsfoot oil, glycerin soap, leather therapy restorer and conditioner.

To conclude, we will discuss what mandatory costs there are for horse shows. The following is a list of things that are constant for showing. The costs have increased slightly from last year. I will provide an invoice of what the fees will be for each rider per show. If you are sharing a horse, trailering will be split. ALL FEES MUST BE PAID THE FRIDAY PRIOR TO SHOW, AND TRAILERING AND HORSE RENTAL MUST BE PAID IN CASH

 TRAILERING- $175 Per horse (split if sharing a horse) HORSE RENTAL- $35 Per day (sometimes we go to away shows but we will discuss that when it comes) COACHING- $40 Per person GROOMING- This will be for mane pulling and clipping for each show. Clippers as well as blades are very expensive. This fee will vary from $10-$50 dependent upon if a horse needs a full clip job of face, legs etc, or just touch up. BRAIDING- $60 For day show (different for away shows) CLASS AND OFFICE FEES- Varies at shows.

I know that this looks like an overwhelming list of things, but trust me, once you've done it once or twice its like a cake walk. The hardest part is keeping calm in the ring itself. You wont be at this alone, we are all there for one another and you can always ask for help from anyone. And remember, its supposed to be fun!

Good Morning!While I know it’s been a long time since the last blog post, I wanted to let everyone know that we only have a spot left in week 4 for our summer camp program this year. All other weeks are already full. We look forward to seeing all of our campers for a fun and exciting summer!